Page 133 of Nocere

"Rosie, you saw the person who caused you so much hurt for the first time since you were a child. That's a big deal."

"It is, but I felt sort of prepared. Even though I shouted," I told her, leaning my head on her shoulder like usual. "Anita and I have played that scene over and over when we talk about my mother. Things I would say or do."

"Did any of it play out that way?"

I nodded, sniffling a little as I hugged her. "Most of it. I didn't imagine myself shouting though or being so upset. I imagined a more demure delivery." I smirked and she chuckled.

"It was how it should be, Rosie. And filled with your emotions and pain." She kissed the end of my nose.

I smiled under her affection and rubbed soft circles around her belly. "Thank you for being with me. Then and now."

"Right back at you." She pressed her lips to my forehead and we quieted for a moment. "I understand now why you don't like being called Rose."

"I hate how she says my name."

"Understandably."

Sam's phone buzzed on the nightstand and we both jumped. Her fingers dug into my hip before she reached for it. A frown tugged the corners of her mouth when the name Lydia Perez appeared on the screen.

"Who's that?" I asked.

"Work." She hovered her thumb over the end call button but I stopped her.

"They'll just call back. Answer it."

She held my gaze for a moment before answering. "What do you need, Lydia?" I watched Sam's open and emotional expression transition back to her stoic baseline. She listened to whatever the woman said then responded, "Convert to G.A." She paused. "You know how. I'm not coming in."

The woman on the other line's volume increased and I heard her say, "We have respiratory acidosis with a P.H. less than seven and taquipnea."

"Hypoxemia?"

"Yes, Doctor Flynn."

"Have you tried high flow oxygenation and non-invasive ventilation?"

"Yes. No improvement."

"Convert to G.A., Perez." Sam dropped her head back on the pillow after spending a few seconds speaking an alien language. "Is the patient panicking?"

"Yes."

"Convert."

"Doctor Flynn, I—"

"I'm not coming in, Perez."

"But...but you're the Attending. I—"

Sam closed her eyes, and squeezed her forehead with the hand that didn't hold the phone. "Where's Meridan?"

"In on another case."

Silence fell between them and I gave Sam's shoulder a squeeze. She opened her eyes, a look of utter despair deadening her expression. "Go," I whispered. "You need to go."

"I don't want to leave you," she mouthed, her lips moving in firm declaration despite the lack of sound.

"Someone needs help," I said and her lips pressed to thin lines.

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